September 23, 2020
Autumn Blessings to All!
In spite of three nights of frost, we still have some lovely zinnias, nasturtiums, and sunflowers near the house that keep our spirits up. Temperatures today should reach into the 70's and the gardens are bathed in that beautiful golden light of September, ushering in what is truly "Indian Summer" in New Hampshire.
This will be a short newsletter because I have elderberries simmering on the stove and there's lots of work to be done outdoors. Luckily, "Caroline" Autumn raspberries aren't affected by light frosts and are still bountiful. We still have blackberries and blueberries too, and will pull off the bird netting over the blues and let the birds enjoy the remaining fruit.
In spite of three nights of frost, we still have some lovely zinnias, nasturtiums, and sunflowers near the house that keep our spirits up. Temperatures today should reach into the 70's and the gardens are bathed in that beautiful golden light of September, ushering in what is truly "Indian Summer" in New Hampshire.
This will be a short newsletter because I have elderberries simmering on the stove and there's lots of work to be done outdoors. Luckily, "Caroline" Autumn raspberries aren't affected by light frosts and are still bountiful. We still have blackberries and blueberries too, and will pull off the bird netting over the blues and let the birds enjoy the remaining fruit.
It's been a strange summer in so many ways, and the drought has affected all of our plantings. Still, we're lucky for every berry, fruit, herb, flower, and vegetable, and profoundly grateful, especially in these trying times.
Tiny Farmstand has been a real delight! People have come from as far away as California and Florida (well, OK, they were visiting relatives too) and as near as next door. Longtime customers from Boston farmers' markets and Tower Hill have surprised me. I'm happy that lots of townspeople have discovered us and are enjoying PattiPops and trying all our other goodies. Some people have left love notes in the cash box, and others are returning jars and bottles, and It's been fun selling herbs, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, and garlic too without having to leave and set up at market.
We've just added bunches of everlasting flowers and packages of dried herbs to our offerings, and created a special nook for Elderberry Syrup.
We've made and sold lots of bouquets, and the flowers were so abundant this year that Lara even brought bouquets home to Shelburne Falls and sold more from the end of her driveway to those flower-loving folks.
I began making PattiPies again last Friday and they sold so well I made more on Sunday! I'll begin making full-sized pies baked in Pyrex by special order beginning next weekend.
Mail order has been a big boon to business too! We've long loved USPS (Ralph had even worked for the USPS while in college) and they pick up for our mail orders nearly every day. In spite of the harsh treatment from the postmaster general, the rank and file workers are still working their hearts out and we have had no problems at all getting our packages sent all over the country.
We've been taking pictures all summer for an update for our website that will be more "phone-friendly." I'll be getting these pictures to Steve, our wise webmaster, soon, so look forward to a new look and an easier ordering experience when using a phone or tablet.
Ralph is headed off to NY today to pick up 200 cases of jars which had been out of stock until just now - (whew!), and I can hear Lisha and Lara laughing from the blueberry bed. We're going to lose our golden girl Lara when she heads back to Switzerland next week, but I'm so glad we had her help for so much of the summer. Her regular catering gigs were cancelled, so we had her around a lot more to help in the kitchen and gardens, and painting all our signs and Tiny Farmstand itself.
It's been a fun summer for Abbey with all the excitement of Tiny Farmstand and she barks loud and long whenever a customer visits, but one sight of her shaggy white mane and smiling face tells all that she's just saying "hi!" and is no threat. Even the rabbits and chipmunks aren't afraid of her goofy self.
In spite of the drought, our seven freezers are full of fruit, and we've been busy putting up preserves and mustards, Elderberry Syrup and Tomatoes Rustica, and have a good supply of everything on hand. When I write the next newsletter I'll have information about supply for the holiday season, but for now, everything looks good (except for Black Currant which will be in short supply).
We're both in good health and fairly vigorous (I had a Lyme scare in spring, and Ralph is nearly 70) and grateful always to be able to still do this work that we both love so much. We've stayed close to home (as always) and enjoy eating from the garden (and our friends' farmstands) and greeting each day, every day.
Thank you to Everyone who helps us live our dream!
Wishing good health, and love, strength, and comfort to All